Introduction

You wake up and can't wait to get to school because you're going on a field trip to the Field Museum.  You get to school and it's time to get on the school bus.  Finally, you're at the Field Museum.  You visit with Sue the Dinosaur.  You see so many wonderful and interesting exhibits.  You are really enjoying yourself.  You think about the next field trip to a different museum.  You think about how glad you are to live in a city where there are places to go and have fun and learn.

People in the city want services that provide safety, education, transportation, and recreation.  People choose to live in cities that have these services.   Local governments provide these type of services that people want and need.  These type of services help to make cities a better place to live.  Do you know what type of services your city's local government provides?  What community helpers work for these services provided?  Who helps to run the local government that provides these services?

Your friend from another city is thinking about moving to Chicago, but is not sure.  His parents are not sure if Chicago will provide the services that they want.  You really want your friend to come to Chicago because you're thinking of all the good fun you can have together.  How will you convince your friend's parents that Chicago is a great place to live?

Your task will be to persuade your friend's parents that Chicago has all the community services they need in order to live.  You will do this by researching information on the internet.  You will identify the leaders of the local government and their roles.  You will also research the community services provided by the local government and the community workers who help provide those services.
After you have gathered your information, you will complete some activities using the information you have researched.

First, you will write a persuassive composition, convincing your friend's parents of all the good services Chicago has to offer.  Then you will create a poster describing the services offered by the local government. Next, you will role-play the community workers and give an oral report on how they help serve the community.  Finally, you will role-play the leaders of the local government and tell what they do in office by performing a skit.

By showing how Chicago's local government provides many services that help the people who live here, your friend's parents will be convinced to move here also.

                                       
The Process
 
1.  First, you will be assigned to a team of 6 students to work in cooperative groups.  Each group will decide who will do what within their group.

2.  Each student in the group will choose an area to research.  You will have six areas to research.

Local Government structure-What is the role of the mayor and the city council?  Go to this website to find out what the mayor and the city council members do?  How do they help the city of Chicago?  Find out who is the mayor of Chicago?  To   find  this information, go to this website.
      cityofchicago.org

      Click on About the Mayor and go to Role of the Mayor
       
      Remeber to write down your information as you research.

  3.  Next find what types of services your city's local government                 provides.  Identify the five types of services people in the communities really want.

      Community Services- Who are the people who provide                           community services to the city and what do they do?

       Education- Who are the people and the places where you can learn?

       Safety and Security- Who are the people who help protect your city and it's citizens?  What do they do?
           

       Transportation-Who are the people who help fix and  build  
       your city's streets and roads?  What do they do?

       Recreation- What are the places you can go to and the things you can do for fun?     Name the places and activities.

       To find this information, go to these websites.
     
       cityofchicago.org  Click on City Departments.
   
  
       http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/neighborhood/index.html

      
       http://library.thinkquest.org/j002846/buildings.htm   
       Click on Building the Windy City.

  4.  When you have gathered all your information, you will write a                             persuassive letter to your friend's parents convincing them    
       that Chicago is a great place to live.  In your letter, you will
       include all the many services that Chicago has to offer and
       give a description of each.  You will also include how the city
       is structured under the local government and who runs it.

  5.  Your next task will be to create a poster or diorama showing
       the mayor and the city council at work and community workers
       providing services for the people in the community.  Write a
       caption describing what your poster or diorama is about.
       Decide in your group if you want to do a poster or diorama.
       Your group may choose to do both.

  6.  Decide which community workers you will role-play.  Make a
       name tag for each community worker you will role-play.  You
       may dress up or make paper costumes.  Give a brief summary
       of what your community worker does and what department of
       the local government does he/she work with.  You will
       present your community workers orally in front of the class.

  7.  Finally, you will role-play the leaders of the local government
      and demonstrate what they do in office by performing a skit.
      Choose someone to play the role of the mayor and others to
      play the role of the city council.  Show what type of decisions
      they might have to make or what problems they might have to
      solve.  Be creative and have fun.

      Any materials you may need to complete the task, ask your
      teacher for help.

        .

You will be given a written test to see how well you understand the information you researched.  You will be given a grade for your persuassive letter.  You will also be given a grade for your oral presentations, using the rubric below.  You will receive an individual grade for written tests, persuassive letters, and oral presentations. You will receive one grade, as a group, for group posters and dioramas.    

The following rubric will be used to grade your oral presentations.

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
Stays on Topic	It was hard to tell what the topic was about..	Stays on topic some (89%-75%) of the time	Stays on topic most (99%-90%) of the time.	Stays on topic all (100%) of the time.
Comprehension	Does not seem to understand the topic very well.	Shows a good understanding of parts of the topic.	Shows a good understanding of the topic.	Shows full understanding of the topic.
Vocabulary	Uses several words or phrases that are not understood by the audience.	Uses vocabulary appropriate for the audience.  Does not include any vocabulary that might not be new.	Uses vocabulary appropriate for the audience.  Includes 1-2 words that might be new.	Uses vocabulary appropriate for the audience.Extends audience vocabulary by defining words.
Props	The student uses no props	Student uses one prop which makes the presentation better.	Student uses one prop that shows considerable work and creativity which makes the presentation better.	Student uses several props or costumes that show considerable work and creativity and makes the presentation better.
Collaboration with Peers	Rarely listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others in the group.	Often listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others in the group.	Usually listens to, shares with  and supports the efforts of othersin the group.	Almost always listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others in the group.

After completing this webquest, you will know more about Chicago's local government and how it is structured.  You will be able to identify the leaders of the local government and tell what their roles are.  You will also be able to tell what services are provided by the local government and who the community workers are.  After learning this information, You may want to research a little further by trying to answer these questions.

What do people discuss at town meetings?  How do they make decisions?

Why is it important for people to take part in their local government?

How do local governments get money to take care of community needs?

http://www.cityofchicago.org

http://library.thinkquest.org/Joo2846/buildings.htm

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/neighborhood/index.html

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/chicago/

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/view

Communities Grade 3 Social Studies, Scott Foresman 2003

Illinois State Board of Education
www.isbe.net